Hadera (Israel) is a small resort town located in the central part of the country. You can get to the resort from Tel Aviv in just 30 minutes. The western part of Hadera is located on the Mediterranean coast, where Givat Olga beach is located. The eastern part — Beit Eliezer-is located in the picturesque Sharon Valley and is famous for its orange groves. A fifth of the total population of Hadera is immigrants, most of them immigrants from the Soviet Republics and Ethiopia.
General information about Hadera
The city of Hadera is located approximately between Tel Aviv and Haifa, so it is convenient to get here from two localities. A distinctive feature that makes it easy to recognize the resort is the high chimneys of the combined heat and power plant. The power plant was built in 1982 and was named after Yitzhak Rabin “Rabin Lights”.
Interesting fact! In colloquial speech, the name of the city is pronounced with an accent on the second vowel — E, however, in official sources, the accent is indicated on the last vowel-A.
Historical excursion
Hadera received the status of a city in 1936, and the decision to establish the settlement was made by members of the organization “Hovevey Zion” – immigrants from Europe and Russia.
Hadera in Arabic means “swamp color”, the name appeared for a reason — the city was built in a swampy area. The purpose of its foundation is to create decent conditions for Jews to return to their native land.
Initially, the town was a modest settlement surrounded by swamps. Local residents for many years were forced to repel constant attacks by Turks, Bedouins, the situation was complicated by malaria epidemics.
Useful to know! In 1895, Baron Rothschild allocated a large sum for the destruction of swamps, increasing the area of green spaces. Since then, the appearance of the city has changed dramatically.
The swamps were fought with the help of eucalyptus trees — their root system perfectly draws moisture from the soil. By the way, even today in Hadera there are many eucalyptus trees that are already more than 100 years old.
Modern Hadera is a small resort town that consists of several residential areas located some distance away.There are two large industrial enterprises operating in the city, and a sanatorium for the military has been built on the seashore. Guests of the resort town come to the railway station, for tourists traveling by car, there are two highways — No. 2 and No. 4. The resort’s industry is concentrated in the northern regions of Hadera.
Important! 22% of Hadera’s residents are immigrants from the CIS countries, which means that Russian-speaking travelers are particularly comfortable here.
Hadera Attractions
The city of Hadera in Israel is a modest, quiet and young settlement, so there are not many attractions here. However, there are places that have a special meaning for the residents of the city.
“Energy of Courage”
The Museum of Military Glory is the only one in Israel. Among the exhibits are military uniforms of different historical periods and countries. You can also see weapons covering the time period from antiquity to the present day. Tourists are particularly interested in the collection of daggers.
Interesting fact! The museum’s founder is David Zelvensky — a military historian, writer, and tour guide.
In the main museum room there are two expositions dedicated to the heroism and military glory of the Jewish people. In the courtyard and foyer of the museum there is an exhibition of works by front-line correspondents, children’s drawings and professional photographs of the war years.
The Great Synagogue and the Khan
These two attractions can be grouped together because they are located next to each other. For the construction of the synagogue, the khan (inn) had to be partially destroyed. Initially, the city authorities wanted to completely demolish the historic building, but local residents did not allow it, they managed to defend 10 rooms of the khan, where tourists and guests of Hadera come with pleasure today.
The synagogue was built for four years – from 1936 to 1940. The building is made in the form of a fortress, since initially it was supposed to protect the city from Arab attacks. In the design of the synagogue there are characteristic features of the national style (in those years, similar buildings were actively built in Jerusalem).
Interesting fact! The grand opening of the synagogue was timed to coincide with the half-century anniversary of Hadera, but then the finishing work was carried out for another 10 years.
If you face the synagogue, to the right is the only surviving building in Hadera — the khan or inn. At first it was used as a hotel, then it was re-qualified for agricultural needs. Then the first inhabitants of Hadera settled in the building, and separate rooms were used for household needs. After settling people in residential buildings, a creamery was set up in Khan, after which there was a pharmacy, an inn. In the period from 1925 to 1948, the building housed a police station.
Today, the surviving premises house a historical museum that tells about the development of the city in Israel from the first days to the present.
Yatir Forest and Sharon Park
The Yatir Forest is the largest in Israel, with more than 1.2 million different trees growing on its territory. It is noteworthy that the forest is located on the border of two climatic zones, so you can find the most unusual plants here, and several species of turtles have also found a home in the forest.
If you want to experience the mighty tranquility and enjoy the natural beauty, take a walk in Sharon Park, where the eucalyptus forest is planted and the hiking trail is laid out among the lakes. It is especially beautiful in the park in spring, when poppies bloom here and nature comes to life.
Please note! If you do not like to sit in one place, visit the excavations of an ancient Byzantine settlement-the Caesarea of Palestine National Park. The attraction is located a few kilometers from Hadera in Israel. There is also a permanent exhibition of local and foreign artists.
“Hand for brothers”
A memorial complex opened in honor of the inhabitants of Hadera who died during the wars and terrorist attacks. The attraction is an exhibition of complex shape-marble slabs are laid out in the form of books, and marble columns symbolize eight candles. The memorial complex is carved with the names of milestones of those who died as a result of terrorist attacks in the period from 1991 to 2001.
Since 2011, Hadera has been actively developing a project for the revival and restoration of historical and architectural monuments of the city in Israel by the decision of the Mayor’s Office. Today, the Eucalyptus Path walking route is laid out for tourists, which consists of 16 memorable places. There are signs in the city with detailed information about the route and each attraction.
On a note! Hadera offers regular sightseeing tours to various cities in Israel — Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv. Comfortable buses take guests.
Givat Olga Hadera Beach
Located on the Mediterranean coast. The name of the beach is associated with the name of a girl who lived in this area in the last century. We are talking about the only midwife Olga Khankin.
In the past, this part of the coast did not enjoy a very good reputation due to the large amount of mud. Several times the beach even got into the anti-rating. However, the city authorities decided to put the beach in order and today Givat Olga beach is included in the list of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly places in Israel.
The most beautiful part of the coast is the southern one, there are many rocky reefs and it is here that you can fully experience the beauty of the seascape.
There are no artificial breakwaters on the beach, so the coastline is flat — this is the main difference between Givat Olga and other beaches in Israel.
A military sanatorium was built in the northern part, and behind it is the Ogni Rabin CHPP. The beach is popular with locals, tourists, and extreme sports enthusiasts. On hot days, fans of camping, sea fishing and camping come here. But for tourists who want to relax in a cafe or restaurant on the beach, Givat Olga beach is not suitable.
Useful to know! Fans of extreme sports can walk along the slope that overhangs the reefs and admire the beach from above.
Givat Olga and the sharks
Near the power plant, the water is much warmer, so white sharks regularly come here, having chosen this place when you need to wait out the cold.
Marine predators appear off the coast of Hadera in the cold season, when the ocean cools down, and stay here until the warming. By the way, many species of sharks were seen near the resort town, from harmless ones — sand and twilight, to predatory ones — white and tiger.
Interesting fact! White sharks are an endangered species, so film crews and scientific expeditions often come to Hadera.
Accommodation in Hadera
Hadera is a tourist destination for guests who like to travel comfortably. The first hotels began to appear in the city relatively recently, until now some tourists prefer to stay in Tel Aviv or Haifa, and come to Hadera for excursions.
Important! Many travelers note that the prices for housing in the city are low, everything is created for a comfortable, family-friendly holiday.
Hadera hotels are built mainly on the seashore, each with its own private beach. A double room in the hotel will cost$159. A room in a guest house will cost$ 20, while renting a house will cost$199.
Weather, when is the best time to go
Hadera has a moderately warm climate, with an average temperature of +21 degrees throughout the year. The hottest season is from June to September. In December, it gets cooler — +19 degrees.
Important! In summer, Hadera is not only hot, but also stuffy. The air is heated to +35 degrees and saturated with moisture. It is quite difficult to tolerate such a climate. The best time to visit the resort is in September and October.
Precipitation in Hadera is almost nonexistent, most often it rains in January, usually no more than 8 days.
How to get to Hadera from Ben Gurion and Tel Aviv
There are several ways to get to the resort.
By train
The train service in Israel is organized in such a way that guests leave the airport building and immediately find themselves at the station. Trains depart every hour, and guests spend about one hour on the road, but there are flights designed for 2 hours. The route involves one transfer – at the Tel Aviv University station. The ticket price is$7.18. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office or booked online (www.rail.co.il/ru). All trains departing from Ben Gurion Airport pass through Tel Aviv (Haganah Ha-Shalom, Merkaz Central, University stations).
Important! To get to the train station from Terminal 3, just go down one floor. A special shuttle runs from the first terminal to the railway station. Departure time-every 15 minutes.
By bus
As for bus routes, there is no direct connection between the airport and Hadera. First you need to take Shuttle No. 5 (Egged Service Lines), which departs from Terminal 3. The bus goes to the Airport City stop, from where you can get to various cities in Israel, including Hadera.
Hadera (Israel) is a wonderful, quiet town with a clean beach. It offers easy access to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other attractions.
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